Absorb the bounce in body, head height should not have very big up and down changes, do not crunch shoulder forward to try to achieve the look. Contract center.

When weight is on one foot, contract both opposite side and center muscle.

Second 1/2 of the beat - going up: slight straightening of the knees. Contract back muscle (shorten the spine)/ Pelvic pendulum back action.

Whole beat and half beat are exact point when body changes direction

"&" is when knee compresses.

whole beat is when knee straightens.

Two beats to a bar in Samba music, 2 complete bounce actions to the bar.

Bounce is even, smooth, subtle and not exaggerated.

Bounce action is used on all figures having a count of "1 a 2 3 a4" basic timing and Volta timing (1a2a3a4).

Bounce is not used where this is a Q in timing (exception: Cruzados Walk and Locks).

Foot Movement

(This applies to Samba Basic and Volta timing.)

One of the complexities in Samba is that foot moves at a different time from the bounce action. Foot moves/places (no weight, just pressure) on quarter note "a", while body bounces on whole and "&" count.

At more advanced level, figure 8 and body ripple action could be added (body wave would be too much).

Quarter Beat #

Count

Bounce Action

Foot Action

Notes

7

&

Body rising up, strong

-

This is starting second half of the preceding beat.
Start to straighten knees.
The straightening comes from pushing the balls of feet off the floor. (Do not do this mechanically from body. It needs to come from the foot.)

8

a

Body continue to rise

RF places fwd, no weight, just pressure

Shorten the back, "Samba Pulse", Pressure through ball of LF, move RF fwd with slight pressure on RF, but no weight. Pelvic pendulum back.
Weight is still on LF. Think about opposition. Step underneath the body.
Do not move spine over too quickly.

Straighten the knees, take weight onto RF. Remove space underneath the body. Weight lands on RF same time as the foot on the beat.

Free leg that's behind: the foot should be IE, roll the
ankle downward, point back. Free leg position is very important.

When knees are straight, it's soft and not as "locked" as other Latin dances.
Then lower/fex knee (which comes before lowering the heel), then lower heel.
Flex knee: just enough to move body, not too much; not bending knee "down", but "bending and going forward"